Irish Derby

Westover (GB) (Frankel {GB}), winner of the G1 Irish Derby and G1 Grand Prix de Saint Cloud, has been retired after sustaining a "career-ending injury" when finishing runner-up in Sunday's G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Announcing his retirement on Thursday, the colt's owner-breeder Juddmonte stated that stud plans for the 4-year-old would be announced at a later date. Juddmonte's racing manager Barry Mahon said, "It's devastating news, unfortunately he suffered a career-ending injury on Sunday and he'll have to be retired. Long-term he'll be fine and he'll be okay...

The first, third and fourth from Epsom all meet again after the Derby form was given a boost by the imposing runner-up King Of Steel when winning the G2 King Edward VII S. at Royal Ascot. Three sons of Galileo take on six of his grandsons, while five Aidan O'Brien-trained runners face one trained by each of his sons, Joseph and Donnacha. AUGUSTE RODIN (Ire) Deep Impact (Jpn) - Rhododendron (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) Owner: Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Mrs John Magnier & Westerberg Breeder: Coolmore Trainer: Aidan O'Brien Pedigree notes:...

Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) is on track to bid for a Derby double at the Curragh on Sunday with Aidan O'Brien's Epsom hero heading a field of 11 forfeits for the Curragh showpiece.  If successful in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby, Auguste Rodin would provide the master of Ballydoyle with his 100th European Classic success, but the colt will face stiff competition with the third and fourth home at Epsom still in the picture for the race.  O'Brien has five horses remaining in the €1.25m contest, which...

Dylan Browne McMonagle has been provided with a golden opportunity to record his first Classic success in the saddle with the news that John Murphy has snapped up the young riding sensation for White Birch (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}) ahead of Sunday's Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby.  White Birch overcame a nightmare start to finish an excellent third in the Derby behind Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}). He was ridden at Epsom by Colin Keane but, with the reigning Irish champion jockey suspended for Sunday's highlight, Murphy has turned to...

John Murphy has reported White Birch (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}) to have come out of his third-placed Derby effort in good order and says that he is looking forward to the rematch with Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the Irish equivalent at the Curragh insisting "there's no hiding now". Despite breaking slowly at Epsom on Saturday, White Birch made tremendous late ground to finish a good third under Colin Keane, leaving connections optimistic about what the future may hold for the grey. "It was a relief. We were absolutely...

Ahmad Al Shaih's G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud winner Dubai Mile (Ire) (Roaring Lion) will be pointed to the G1 Grand Prix de Paris with the possibility of a run at Royal Ascot in between, trainer Charlie Johnson said. The colt finished ninth in the G1 Betfred Derby on Saturday and was fifth in the Qipco 2000 Guineas at Newmarket in his three-year-old debut last month. Dubai Mile holds engagements in the G2 King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot on Jun 23 and also the G1 Irish Derby at The...

Charlie Appleby has revealed that the sole reason behind the 2021 Irish Derby and St Leger hero Hurricane Lane (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) staying in training as a five-year-old is to have a crack at winning the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.  Hurricane Lane, who was put through his paces at Newmarket racecourse on Tuesday morning ahead of his seasonal reappearance in the Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise S. at Newbury on Saturday, was third in the Arc as a three-year-old.  All systems go for Hurricane Lane to run @NewburyRacing on...

Lone Eagle (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), beaten a neck into second by Hurricane Lane (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) in the 2021 G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby, will be offered on the Goffs Online platform in a timed auction Nov. 21 and 22. A 500,000gns Tattersalls October yearling, the son of the stakes-winning and American Grade III-placed Modernstone (GB) (Duke of Marmalade {Ire}) won three of his four starts at two, including the G3 Zetland S. for trainer Martyn Meade and had future US champion and GI Breeders' Cup Turf hero Yibir...

One thousand winners and counting. Joseph O'Brien passed yet another important milestone in his training career on Saturday when Al Riffa (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) became his 1,000th winner in the opening seven-furlong maiden at the Curragh. And what style it was achieved in. Al Riffa, who emerged as a major eye-catcher when staying on for second in a Curragh maiden last month, showed the benefit of that initial outing to confirm himself a potential top-notcher in the making. It was just over six years ago when O'Brien enjoyed a...

The Aga Khan's homebred dual Derby winner Harzand (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}--Hazariya {Ire}, by Xaar {GB}) has been sold to continue his stallion career in Ireland at Kilbarry Lodge Stud. Trained by Dermot Weld and ridden by Pat Smullen, Harzand overcame a last-minute foot injury scare to win the 2016 G1 Derby to give his owner-breeder a fifth triumph in the Epsom Classic following Shergar (GB), Shahrastani, Kahyasi (Ire) and Sinndar (Ire). He then followed up with victory in the G1 Irish Derby. Among Harzand's Flat runners this season...

   There have been a lot of football analogies in racing this week. Most have centered around a hypothetical situation whereby the Kevin De Bruynes or the Erling Haalands of this world were leaving the Premier League for sunnier-and more lucrative pay packets-in foreign leagues.     For all the Manchester City fans out there, you can relax, as the analogy was simply fictional. However, there is nothing fictional about the mass exodus of talent facing British and Irish racing.    Ger Lyons is better qualified than most to speak about...

The Curragh, IRELAND--Saturday's G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby revolved around Westover (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and he didn't disappoint. The fact that Colin Keane was handed the ride at the expense of Rob Hornby, who was aboard the colt at Epsom, provided a fascinating sub-plot to the race and both men emerged from the weekend with reputations not only intact but enhanced. Westover was the winner the Curragh needed and his victory tees up a fascinating rematch between himself and the Derby hero Desert Crown (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) in the...